CHAPTER 6 I'm still Your Husband

"Being a great and nice husband isn't enough, if love is not around."

Kendra's POV

I woke up in pain intensely banging my head. I turned to the other side of the bed and found a space, like a void space in my heart.

"Didn't you ask him to leave? Didn't you want to just spend the time alone? So why are you acting defeated?" I scolded myself from my pity party.

I checked the time and realized I was already late for work. Plus, my head was killing me, so I wanted to sleep all day long.

My body felt so heavy that I almost dragged my feet to the bathroom. If only not for this upset stomach, I wouldn't get out of bed either.

But I didn't want to mess up Johann's bed sheet so I hurried to the sink and released everything that was making me feel down.

With every grain, I threw up came out with tears. I couldn't comprehend whether those tears were from my vomiting or my inner wounds.

I stayed there for quite some time until I threw up everything I ate from yesterday's meal. I sat on the bathroom floor and waited for my surroundings to stop spinning.

"God I hate morning sickness!" I yelled, knowing that Johann's already gone out for work.

But I didn't want to affect my baby so I talked to my little peanut, "Hey bud, sorry. Mommy's just upset. I will eat whatever you want, okay?"

When I came out of the bedroom, I saw my phone screen was blinking on and off. Someone must have called me. I tapped the screen and saw who it was.

I thought it was an emergency so I called him back. He answered real quickly as if he was waiting for me to call back.

"Hey, what's up?" I said in a cold greeting.

"Hey you, too," then he chuckled, "Did you just get up?"

"Uh-huh," still wiping some water from my mouth.

"Looks like you had a great night without me by your side," then he laughed again. But my silence probably got to him, so he added, "Kidding."

"So why'd you call? I was thinking of calling in sick for today," I hustled.

"Why? Should I send Jones to pick you up and bring you to your doctor?" his voice was worried sick. And somehow I smiled involuntarily.

"No, no! I'll be fine. So the reason you called is?"

"I had a gift prepared for you."

"A gift for what?"

"I am still your husband. And I want to give you something for our second anniversary. I was being an asshole talking about divorce yesterday, so here's why. Since I am in a meeting the whole day, I already asked Jones to deliver it to you once you get in here. But given your situation, I'll have him come over to our house."

"You know, you don't have to give me anything anymore. We'll be divorcing soon so–"

"–I will take no for an answer and you know it," his voice resonated on my speakerphone, "If you don't want to accept just because you felt burdened by it, then give me something in return."

He continuously talked without giving me a chance to decline or refuse, that's why the only thing I said was, "Okay. I'll wait for him."

In all honesty, the pregnancy test kit was the gift I set up for him. But because of what happened, he won't be getting it ever. So while waiting for Jones, I thought of a possible thing to give to him.

I searched inside the kitchen cabinet and all I saw were ingredients for baking a cake, "Oh great, that's just so great!" I ranted sarcastically.

But it left me no choice since I didn't have much time. So I instantly began preparing and baking.

I remembered the prescribed medicines I accidentally saw in his drawer, and how much he hates, or should I say, avoids sweets.

Thank goodness, I was able to find almond flour and some natural sweetener to use for his non-sugar cake.

"Let's get it on, Kendra!" I cheered myself aloud.

After an hour or two, the timer of the oven tinged. And so did the doorbell to the front door.

It startled me and almost dropped the freshly-baked cake I was holding, "Goodness gracious!"

Jones probably has arrived. So I went straight and opened the door for him.

He was all smiles when he saw me. He was wearing his usual get-up and had his hands occupied left and right, a glamorous jewelry box, and a bouquet, respectively.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Petersen, my boss asked me to deliver these to you," he greeted me.

I warmly accepted his greeting and asked him to come in, "Do you want a cup of tea?"

"Gladly, Mrs.," then he sat down in one of our receiving couches.

I went straight to the kitchen, and while brewing some tea, I heard him speak with someone else.

As expected, he reported his arrival to Johann while I gently placed the tea on the center table.

I motioned my hand and he simply nodded.

They were talking about something else so I excused myself to get the cake ready.

When I returned to the living room, Jones's eyes widened while they were fixated on the cake box I was holding.

Then he relayed it to the one he was talking to, "Err, Sir Petersen, your wife here, has something for you."

By mistake, he pressed the loudspeaker button, so I heard everything he said,

"If it's something sweet or cake, give them back, give it away or throw it. She knows I don't eat cake."

His words were harsh, inconsiderate, and suffocating.

My hands automatically tightened the grip around the corner of the box. My heart constricted. Not only did he reject the cake, but he indeed rejected my love.

My throat felt swollen from trying not to cry. Jones saw how teary I became, and realized the foolishness he made.

"Oh, god. I am sorry, Mrs. Petersen. Uh, sir, your wife–uh, she heard you."

Still, that didn't change the fact.

"It's alright, Jones, she already knew those things. Anyway, thank you, my wife. But I have to pass."